Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I will be away from the Library for much of the month of July -- I will be taking time off for Carpal Tunnel Surgery and time to recover from the surgery. If anyone needs to meet with me for help with the library's genealogy resources, please give me a call at 662-841-9013 to set up a time, so I can be sure to catch up with you while I am there!

The Lee County Library staff is always willing to help, but some are not as familiar with the library's genealogy resources as I am. Also, the Reference department will be running short of staff due to my absence and will not have as much opportunity to provide one-on-one assistance. Please let me know if I can make plans to assist anyone during the times I will be available.

Otherwise, I look forward to being at work again full-time beginning in August!

"Usually, the members of the Northeast Mississippi Historical & Genealogical Society get together for a "Meet and Eat" fun meeting in June of each year. However, this year, this dinner meeting will not be held in June due to the number of people who will be out of town or who will be otherwise obligated. Instead, the Society members are invited to bring their own personal genealogy research to the Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS to join others for a group workday. Please meet at 6 p.m. June 25, on the second floor Genealogy Department where Society member volunteers Jennell Murphey and Sandra Knight and others will be available to guide and advise on searching for ancestors using the Library's resources. For more information, email Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com" - Susie Dent

"A very special event will take place this weekend. On Saturday, June 6, 2009, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the historic Chickasaw Chief Tishomingo will be honored at the site of his old homestead west of Guntown, MS. Representatives from the Chickasaw Nation, headquartered in Ada, OK, will be in attendance when a historic marker will be unveiled on the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edwards. Traditional Chickasaw songs, dance and games will be performed. Chief Tishomingo was the last chief to serve in North Mississippi before the tribe was forced to cede their lands and be removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) to be placed on reservations. The removal of the Chickasaws took place in 1834-35 when the 5 "Civilized Tribes" were forced on a journey called "The Trail of Tears" to Indian Territory. Many towns, counties, historic sites and properties in northern Mississippi and Oklahoma have Chickasaw names. There is Tishomingo, town and county, in Mississippi, for example. The public is invited to attend the event. Directions to the site: travel NORTH from Tupelo, MS on Highway 45 north, go about 10 miles to Guntown, MS and exit on Highway 348 WEST toward New Albany, MS. Go between 2 and 4 miles, more or less, turn RIGHT onto County Road 503 near the Blair Community, go about 1 mile. The marker will be seen on the left of the road on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edwards' farm. For more information, contact Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com"